"Who the hell are you? Do you know who I am?"
Chu Yifeng got to his feet with the help of others, glaring furiously at Zhou Fan, but he didn't dare to step forward again.
"Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Zhou Fan, and I'm Chu Yan's husband. As the old saying goes, the eldest sister is like a mother, which would make her husband like a father. So if you don't mind, you can all call me Dad!"
With a casual air, Zhou Fan walked over to Chu Yan's side, naturally wrapping his left arm around her slim waist as he looked at Chu Yifeng and the others with a smirk.
BOOM!
Zhou Fan's words were like a clap of thunder, exploding in everyone's minds. A few of the more fragile ones nearly stumbled and fell. One by one, their eyes widened in fury, and they glared at Zhou Fan, seething with anger.
If looks could kill, Zhou Fan would have already been sliced to pieces a thousand times over by their gazes.
'Damn, I've seen people try to take advantage of a situation, but this is the first time I've ever seen someone try to become our dad!'
Chu Wen, however, was on the side, secretly giving a thumbs-up. 'Damn, brother-in-law, that's savage!'
Chu Yan wanted to stop him, but she knew that even without Zhou Fan, today's conflict likely wouldn't end peacefully. She decided to just let it all go to hell. At worst, she would just never come back again.
"What are you all doing? Get in here, now. Your grandfather wants to see you!"
Just then, a woman's icy voice rang out. Everyone followed the sound and saw a woman who looked to be about thirty. She wasn't much older than Chu Yan, but she exuded a mature, feminine charm.
"Auntie!"
Chu Yan, Chu Wen, and even the indignant Chu Yifeng and his group all greeted her respectfully before entering the room together.
Chu Qianqian, Chu Tianxiang's youngest daughter and the only girl among his five children, was deeply doted on by him in the Chu Family.
The moment Zhou Fan stepped into the room, he sensed a chilling cold permeating the air. It was especially thick around the old man sitting on the bed in front of him, as if he were sitting in an ice cellar.
"Divine Doctor Ouyang, is my father's illness really incurable?"
"As long as you can cure my father, our Chu Family is willing to pay any price. Please, Divine Doctor Ouyang, don't give up!"
Sitting next to Chu Tianxiang was an old man dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit. Chu Peiyang and Chu Peiyu, Chu Tianxiang's eldest and second sons respectively, were currently looking at him with great respect.
"It's not that I am giving up, but Elder Chu's body is too weak. Furthermore, the cold energy has been inside him for too long, making a complete cure impossible. The fact that I was able to bring him back and can guarantee he will not die within seven days is already the best I can do."
Divine Doctor Ouyang glanced at the two brothers. He had already given them considerable face by traveling a thousand miles from the Capital City. And just as he said, he truly had done his best.
"It's alright. These old bones of mine have lived long enough. Thank you for your trouble this time, Divine Doctor Ouyang," Chu Tianxiang said with a calm smile. He cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute to Divine Doctor Ouyang, then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Chu Yan and the other younger family members.
"Xiaoyan, and this is?" Chu Tianxiang asked kindly, looking at Zhou Fan standing hand-in-hand with Chu Yan.
"Grandpa, this is my husband. We're already registered!" Chu Yan quickly pulled Zhou Fan forward, then, as if presenting a treasure, she took out two small, bright red booklets and handed them to the old man.
"Our Xiaoyan is finally married! Haha, I'm so happy. That's one of my last two wishes fulfilled!" Chu Tianxiang examined the marriage certificates closely, then shot a meaningful look at the unhappy-looking Chu Qianqian on the other side.
"Don't you worry about me. You should focus on living a few more years so you can become a great-grandfather!" Chu Qianqian rolled her beautiful eyes. She was at her wit's end with the old man. Every time she came back, Chu Tianxiang would inevitably pressure her to get married. 'It's like being thirty-three and single is a crime or something, right?'
"Fifth Brother, is that any way to speak to Father? Of the three major offenses against filial piety, having no heir is the greatest. Father is just looking out for you!" Chu Peiyu immediately barked, sharply reprimanding Chu Qianqian.
"That's right, Fifth Brother. You're already thirty-three. It's time to find someone and get married!" Chu Peiyang didn't even glance at Chu Yan and Zhou Fan, acting as if Chu Yan wasn't his daughter. He also turned to Chu Qianqian, speaking with an air of earnest persuasion.
"Wow, what a pair of filial sons. Are you just afraid I'll fight you for the family inheritance? Don't worry, I'm not interested. If you two angered Father a little less, it would be better than anything!"
Chu Qianqian shot the two of them a sarcastic glance, devoid of any sibling affection.
"Alright, alright, all of you, shut up!" Chu Tianxiang snapped with displeasure, then beckoned to Zhou Fan. "Kid, come here!"
Although Zhou Fan was quite unhappy with the address, he had no choice but to walk to Chu Yan's side, a respectful expression on his face. "Grandpa, my name is Zhou Fan. I've heard Xiaoyan mention you often. Even though I never had the chance to meet you, the image I have of you in my heart is an incredibly noble one. Xiaoyan said you dote on her very much, and so she hoped to find a husband who would dote on her just as much. Now, she's found him!"
'I might not like it,' he thought, 'but I've got to lay on the flattery when it's needed.' After all, Chu Tianxiang had a treasure on him that Zhou Fan needed. If he could get his hands on it without a fuss, that would be for the best.